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The purpose of this study is to investigate whether if KatGuide (a new developed medical device) improves the placing of a large bore chest tube in the pleural cavity compared to the conventional method.

X-ray examination of the chest is performed within 3 hours after the chest tube insertion, to evaluate if the placement of the chest tube is acceptable.

Secondary Outcome Measures :

Length of hospital stay [ Time Frame: 5 days ]

The hospital stay depends on how long time it takes to solve the chest tube related problem. In a few patients it takes only one day, but in severe cases it may take weeks before the patient can be discharged. We predict, that the patient will be in hospital for a mean time of 5 days.

Time with chest tube [ Time Frame: 3 days (mean time) ]

A few patients can have the chest tube removed in only one day, but some patients must have a chest tube for weeks. We predict that the patients will have a chest tube in a mean time of 3 days.

Infection in wound [ Time Frame: 4 weeks ]

4 weeks after the chest tube insertion, the patient is contacted and the patient is asked whether there are problems with infection of the wound.

Number of chest tubes [ Time Frame: 7 days (mean time) ]

It is observed whether the patient has multiple chest tubes inserted in the pleural cavity at the same side. It is predicted, that these patients are hospitalized longer than patients with only one chest tube. We predict, that these patients are hospitalized for a mean time of 7 days.

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Layout table for eligibility information

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with pneumothorax in the upper pleural space or fluid in the lower pleural space.

Indication for upper or lower placement of a single chest tube in the pleural cavity

18 years of age or older

Exclusion Criteria:

Fertile women

Patients who can not give written or verbal consent to participate

If there is no time or possibility to inform the patient

Patients who already has a large bore chest tube

Patients with long lasting (>14 days) or chronic chest tube

Patients with both fluid and air in the pleural cavity

Patients where "the safe area" (front axillary fold, IC 4-5) can not be used for chest tube insertion